Child&#39;s gliding teeter



Aug l, 1950 A, F. HUGUr-:NY

CHILDS GLIDING TEETER Filed sept. 2s, 1947 H/ FRED E ucu/ENV a .Eril if'. Hall laf# IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY. I

Patented Aug. 1, M1950 cHILDs GLIDING TEETER Alfred FtHugueny, Los Angeles, Calif. Application September 23, 1947, Serial No. 775,712 'zclaims. (c1. 1551-62) i This invention relates to a childrens gliding teeter and more particularly to a safety swing comprising a plurality of dual units. i

Although numerous swing structures oi the class to which this invention pertains have been manufactured and placed on the market, yet there remains room for improving such structures in certain particulars so that they will be more durable and more safely operable.

Accordingly it is an object ofthe present invention to provide, in a swing structure comprising horizontally spaced apart pairs of legs and an overhead horizontal bar supported by and bridging the space between said pairs of legs, an improved hanger structure rigidly` sup# ported upon and above said bar and having end portions at each side of said bar, to which the suspending connections of the swing proper are I attached.

Another, and more specific object is to provide for using a channel iron structure to better advantage as a part of a means for supporting the suspending connections of the seat portion of the swing. I

Among other objects are: to provide a simpliiied, more sturdy combination of the seat portions of the swing with the swingable suspending means carried by the overhead portion of the swing structure; and to provide a superior means for vertically adjusting `the height of the seat proper of the swing in relation to suitable footrests provided for the occupant thereof.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafter appear. l

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one end portion of the swing structure, showing one pair of supporting legs, the adjacent end portion oi the overhead supporting bar, and one of the dual swing units supported upon said bar by improved means provided bythis invention.

f Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the plane of line 2--2 on Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 is a detail, on the scale of Fig. 2, showing in plan, one of the overhead channel shapes from which each swing proper is suspended, parts of said channel shape being broken` out in order to contract the size of the view.

. Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional detail on the same scale as Fig. 3, looking at the central frag` 5-5 `of Fig; 1, on an enlarged scale, one of the telescoped `members being shown in elevation and the other in section.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section through parts shown in the lower portion of Fig. 1, on line 6 6.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional detail, taken on line 'I--l of Fig. 1, the scale being enlarged.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in` Fig. I1 is shown a pair of supporting legs I 0, Ill, braced by a horizontal rod. II, the upper end portions of said legs being telescoped into sleeves I2, I2, which at their upper ends are welded to the main, nonrotatable horizontal overhead bar I4, thus completing an A-shaped frame at this end of the general structure, it being understood that there is a twin A-shaped frame at the opposite end of the top bar I4. As best shown in Fig. `5, each sleeve I2 is semi-circularly out out so as to afford footings for semi-circular welds I3 which securely unite said sleeves with said bar. Said bar I il, shown as a tube, has its ends closed by caps Ma..

One of the dual swing units I5 is fully shown in Fig. 1, where it will be seen that said unit comprises an open-ended channel shaped overhead mounting member I6 having flanges Ilia, and which, as shown in Fig. 4 is transversely secured to the top bar I4 by means of a double weld Il supplemented by a pair of inclined tie plates IB, the lower edges of said tie plates being welded at I9 to the lower portion of the bar I4 and the upperedges of said tie plates (which diverge upwardly from each other) each being welded at 2D to the bottom of said channel shaped member. The iianges I 6a have vertical outer sides, but inner sides IBb which diverge from below upwardly, as well shown in Fig. 2. Said channel shaped overhead member may be manufactured in a rapid, inexpensive manner by cutting structural steel channels into the required lengths.

Each unit of the dual seat carrying structure `is shown as comprising a pair of parallel strap iron bars 2| the upper portions of which are united by ties 22, and 23 and the lower portions of which are connected to each other by handle bars 24 and foot rest bars 25, these four parts being welded or otherwise secured to the paired seat-suspending bars which they connect.

In order to swingably connect the upper end portions of` each pair of bars 2| with the chan#-` nel member I6 `a bolt-like shaft 21 is secured transversely to each end portion of said inem` ber in an overlying, contacting relation to the basal or web portion thereof, the end portions of said shaft projecting through and beyond the side flanges Ita of said member. The aforesaid strap metal bars 2i have their upper end portions swingably connected with said projecting end Iportions of said shafts 21. By preference and as shown each of the bolt-like shafts 2'1 has the end thereof opposite to its head diametrically reduced at 28 and screwthreaded throughout its diametrically reduced part, the remaining portion of the shaft being unthreaded, thus providing suitable bearing surfaces for the apertured upper end portions of the seat-suspending strips 2l. A nut 29 is screwed down upon the threaded end portion of each shaft 2l.

In the lower part of Fig. 1 is shown a dual seat structure including the pair ofelongated seats 3i] which axially aline with each other and are secured to the upper side of a common tubular mounting bar 3l. The external diameter of this tubular bar is equal to the space between the paired seat-suspending strips 2l, between which said bar fits, being secured in place by bolts 32 which pass diametrically through the bar. Said paired strips are each provided with a vertical row of apertures 33, the apertures of each row being horizontally opposite to those of the other row', thus providing for mounting at different heights the bolt 32 and seat-carrying bar 3l. A nut 34 is screwed onto said bolt to keep it in place. Owing to the bar 3l being tubular rather than rectangular in cross section, it reduces the friction between itself and the suspending strips 2l between which it is tted. The preferred means for securely mounting the seats it@ upon the bar 'di is shown in detail in Fig. 7 where a metal strap 35 is shown extending along and. resting upon an end portion of the bar 3l and secured to said bar b-y welds 3E. Said metal strap is suitably apertured to receive screw bolts sh having at their upper ends heads 38 countersunk into the upper surface of the seat, the lower ends of these screw bolts carrying nuts 39.

Referring further to certain details of construction, holes ltc in the flanges ita are drilled oversize and in such a manner so as to remove a portion of the web of the channel it, as indicated at ld, in order that the body portion of the bolt 27 may rest upon the web of the channel. This construction removes a shearing action on the bolt by the flange when a load is applied to the bars 2l. Ties 2id attached to the bars 2l opposite the handles 24 are added to further stiffen the bars 2l near their lower ends.

The bar I4 comes from the shop with the sleeves I2 and channel i6 Welded thereto and With the caps lila, applied to the open ends as a unit. The dual members l5 with the ties 22, 23 and 2id Welded in place and with the handle bars 24 and foot rests 25 applied as shown, come from the shop as a second unit. The mounting bar 3l with the detachably applied seat 3Q form another separate unit as do also the legs I0 and horizontal braces Il.

Therefore, in erecting the swing it is only necessary to bolt the several units together, where necessary, and then telescope the sleeves l2 over the upper end portions of the legs Hl that have been previously secured to the ground by means of the pegs Ia extending through apertured foot flanges secured to the lower ends o-f the legs IU. Y

In the operation of the device persons using 4 the same are safeguarded against any overhead part becoming broken or displaced and then falling down upon them. This safety feature is mainly due to the fact that each of the channel shaped members I5 rests bodily upon the overhead bar I4, so that, even if its Welded connection with said bar should break loose and the channel slip endwise till one pair of the seat-suspending strips 2l should engage the overhead bar, nothing would fall down upon the persons occupying the seats 30.

In action the seats 30 glide back and forth in a horizontal relation to the ground surface.

The safety feature embodied in the swing makes it a desirable unit in parks and at home Without fear of accident to children using it even though older persons are not present to supervise their activities.

I claim:

l. In a swing structure, comprising legs and an overhead nonrotatable horizontal bar supported by said legs, a horizontal, rigid channel shaped member having its midlength portion resting upon and secured crosswise to said bar with the open side of said member directed upwardly, and a dual seat-carrying structure coinprising two suspending members one of which is swingably connected with one end portion of said channel shaped member, the other of said suspending members being pivotally connected with the opposite end portion of said channel shaped member.

2. In a swing structure, comprising legs and an overhead nonrotatable horizontal bar supported by said legs, a horizontal, rigid channel shaped member having its midlength portion resting upon and secured crosswise to said bar with the open side of said member directed upwardly, a shaft transversely overlying and abutting against the web portion of said channel shaped member at each side of said overhead bar, each of said shafts having its end portions projecting beyond the sides of said channel shaped member, and swingable seat carrying means connected with each of the projecting end portions of said shafts, said member being a segment of a structural steel channel.

3. In a swing structure, the combination with an overhead supporting means; of two pairs of parallel adjacent suspending bars having upper end portions swingably connected to said overhead means, a horizontally extending tubular seat-supporting bar extending through the lower portions of both of said pairs of bars, the diameter of said seat-supporting bar bridging the space between each of the paired bars, and a single pair of mounting bolts for said seatsup porting bar passing diametrically therethrough, one of said bolts having end portions passing turnably through one of the pairs of suspending' bars and the other of said bolts having end portions passing turnably through the other of said pair of suspending bars.

4. In a swing structure, comprising legs and an overhead nonrotatable horizontal bar supported by said legs, a horizontal, rigid channel shaped member having its midlength portion resting upon and secured crosswise to said bar with the open side of said member directed upwardly, and a dual seat-carrying structure comprising two suspending members one of which is swingably connected with one end portion of said channel shaped member, the other of said suspending members being pivotally connected with the opposite end portion of said channel shaped member, there being an inclined brace at each side of said overhead bar, the lower end portion of said brace being welded to the lower part of said bar, and the upper portion of said brace being welded to the bottom surface of said channel shaped member.

5. In a swing structure, the combination with an overhead'supporting means; of two pairs of parallel adjacent suspending bars having upper end portions swingably connected to said overhead means, a, horizontally extending tubular seat-supporting bar extending through the lower portions of both of said pairs of bars, the diameter of said seat-supporting bar bridging the space between each of the paired bars, a single pair of mounting bolts for said seat-supporting bar passing diametrically therethrough, one of said bolts yhaving end portions passing turnably through one of the pairs of suspending bars and the other of said bolts having end portions passing turnably through the other of said pair of suspendingbars, a horizontal metal strap extending along one end of and having its midwidth portionY resting upon said bar, means securing said strap to said bar in such position, and an elongated seat member secured to said straps in a longitudinal overlying relation thereto.

6. The subject matter :of claim 5, and said metal strap being welded to said bar by welds o extending along each side of the line of contact of said strap with said bar.

7. In a swing structure, comprising legs and an overhead nonrotatable horizontal bar supported by said legs, a horizontal, rigid channel shaped member having its midlength portion resting upon and secured crosswise to said bar with the open side of said member directed upwardly, a dual seat-carrying structure comprising two suspending members one of which is swingably connected with one end portion of said channel shaped member, the other of said suspending members being pivotally connected with the opposite end portion of said channel shaped member, and additional securing means extending from the lower side of said bar to portions of said member spaced away from said bar.

ALFRED F. HUGUENY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 281,216 White July 10, 1883 1,254,890 Douglass Jan. 29, 1918 1,646,160 Milam Oct. 18, 1927 1,930,375 Wagner Oct. 10, 1933 2,027,089 Carraway Jan. 7, 1936 

